TILTON – A 48-year-old man was due to be airlifted to a Boston hospital late Saturday night after suffering a serious eye injury while he and some friends were lighting a multiple-tube "cake" firework late Saturday night.

Tilton-Northfield Fire Department Lt. Sean Valovanie said the man suffered the injury at about 10 p.m. at 45 Vista Heights when he was struck in the eye by part of the firework.

The man, who was not identified by fire officials, was taken to Lakes Region General Hospital, where doctors decided he needed care in a Boston hospital.

"The injury was serious, but he was alert and awake the whole time," Valvonie said.

When asked if the man would lose his injured eye, Valvonie said, "We're not sure how serious it was, that's up to the doctors."

The victim had been outside with a group of friends, and had a cake-type firework, which had some type of aerial shells connected together by a fuse.

"There were multiple shots in the firework," he said.

The fire department has numerous warnings posted on its web page on the danger of fireworks usage.